Ministry Leadership Team

Renee Graham

Acting Chief Executive

Renee Graham has been seconded to Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage from the Ministry for Women where she’s been the Chief Executive since June 2017. Renee has a strong background in leading complex strategic policy development in both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development.

As well as her policy expertise, Renee also has experience in operational roles in Work and Income, before moving into project and management positions after starting her career as a frontline case manager. Renee is a skilled public service senior leader with a track record of successfully leading the development of solutions to complex policy issues. Renee is of Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa descent.

Colin Holden

Deputy Chief Executive, Policy and Sector Performance

Colin is Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Policy and Sector Performance. The Policy and Sector Performance Group provides Ministers with policy advice to support the sustainable growth of the cultural sector, and on how to improve New Zealanders' access to and participation in cultural experiences. The Group also monitors the performance of 15 cultural sector agencies that receive Crown funding.

Colin joined the Ministry in 2017 after a long career linked to the primary sector. He has significant experience in strategic policy, regulatory systems and law reform, and has held leadership roles in a range of policy and regulatory areas. Prior to taking up his current role, Colin managed the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Arts and Media Policy team.

Becky MacNeill

Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Performance

Becky joined the Ministry in May 2017 to take on the new role of Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Performance. She is responsible for developing organisational strategy and building a high performance environment across the Ministry and for the agencies we fund.

In her role, Becky is responsible for the full suite of corporate services and is charged with building organisational performance and culture to support a successful organisation which connects people in a cohesive way to New Zealand’s culture and heritage.

Becky is experienced in delivering high quality corporate functions, in the context of organisational performance and strategic direction.

Prior to joining the Ministry Becky was with the Ministry for the Environment where she was Director of the People and Culture, Legal and Procurement and was previously the Director of Legal and Procurement. Becky spent several years at the Ministry for Economic Development in the legal team and has experience there acting as a Policy Manager.

Mike Nathan

Pou Ārahi Whakahaere

Mike joined the Ministry in 2018 from Te Tari Taiwhenua (DIA) where he has spent most of his career, first in the Far North as part of Hāpai Hapori (Community Operations Group) then as Director Pou Ārahi in Kāwai ki te Iwi (Service Delivery Branch) and, most recently, as Principle Advisor-Te Aka Taiwhenua in Ngā Tohu Ratonga (Shared Services Branch).

Over the last few years he has led work with others on Te Aka Taiwhenua (DIA’s Māori strategy), the expansion and focus on use in DIA of Te Reo in their “every day mahi” a Māori Staff Leadership Programme – Te Kurutao, and the ongoing care and protection of Te Atamira, a National network of local kaumatua and kuia who work closely with DIA. Mike previously worked at the Department of Māori Affairs and Department of Social Welfare.

Mike affiliates to Te Rarawa and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and comes to us with a passion for bringing te reo, tikanga and a Māori world view into the work of the public service.

Tamsin Evans

Deputy Chief Executive, Delivery Group

Since emigrating from the UK in 1996 Tamsin has worked in a wide range of local government and corporate functions. From delivering major infrastructure projects, to key strategic and policy initiatives and organisational change projects, to front line and core services, she has worked in local government for 21 years and at a senior level for fifteen years.

Tamsin worked at Kapiti District Council as Group Manager Community Services and Deputy Chief Executive. She had been at KCDC for 10 years and prior to that worked for Capacity (now known as Wellington Water) and for Wellington City Council in various infrastructure and customer service roles.

While working at Kapiti Coast District Council, Tamsin was involved several major construction projects including building the Coastlands Aquatic Centre and the Alliance arrangements to deliver the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway as well as a variety of strategic and policy activities.

Tamsin worked as Chief Operating Officer at Porirua City Council from March 2016 until June 2018. The role encompassed operational and strategic leadership of the Council’s delivery activities in infrastructure and community facilities at a time when the completion of Transmission Gully and several other major developments in the city herald exciting growth opportunities for Porirua.

However, after twenty one years in local government it was time for a change and the chance to make a switch to central government was too good an opportunity to miss. Tamsin took up the role of Deputy Chief Executive, Delivery Group at MCH in August 2018.